NEW YORK (Reuters) – A judge has dismissed New York City’s lawsuit alleging that Exxon Mobil, BP, and Shell were responsible for deceiving the public regarding their products and environmental commitments. State Supreme Court Justice Anar Patel in Manhattan ruled on Tuesday that the city’s claim that the oil giants failed to disclose the link between fossil fuels and climate change lacked merit as this information was already widely known.
The court further found no evidence to support the city’s contention that the companies engaged in “greenwashing” tactics, which involves misleading consumers about the environmental benefits of their products. Justice Patel clarified that the companies’ promotion of clean and alternative energy sources did not amount to deceptive practices to boost fossil fuel sales.
Following the ruling, a spokesperson for the city’s law department refrained from commenting on the decision as of Wednesday. The legal action, initiated in April 2021, stemmed from a previous federal appeals court ruling that absolved Exxon, BP, Shell, and other oil companies from bearing the costs incurred by the city in addressing the consequences of climate change.
Numerous state and local governments across the United States have pursued legal action against oil corporations in a bid to hold them accountable for their role in climate change and to advocate for greater transparency on environmental issues.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York. Editing by Jane Merriman)
